Formulation and Evaluation of Albumin Microspheres Containing Aceclofenac

Microencapsulation is one of the novel methods for retarding drug release from dosage forms and minimizing the adverse effects thereby increasing the patient compliance. Microspheres form homogeneous, monolithic particles which improve the treatment by providing localization of the drug at the site of action and by prolonging the drug release. The objective of the present study was to formulate sustained release microspheres of aceclofenac using egg albumin as release retarding agent. The results of FTIR spectral and DSC studies showed that there was no significant interaction between the drug and polymer. The maximum yield of the microspheres was found to be 96.99% and the encapsulation efficiency was found to be 65.2%. The prepared albumin microspheres released the drug completely within 10 hours at lower drug to polymer ratio. At ratio of more than 1:2, the drug release was sustained over a period of 12 hours. The microspheres showed similar release profile as compared to the marketed sample. The microspheres were discrete, spherical and uniform in shape. The particle size was of the microspheres was found to be 99.6 μm. The drug does not cause any toxic symptoms up to the dose of 300mg/kg. The optimized formulation showed good analgesic and anti inflammatory activity when compared to the standard drug. The prepared microspheres showed minor changes in particle size only under long term stability study with no appreciable change in drug content proving good stability of the product conducted both in accelerated and long term stability studies. The present study signifies the utility of microspheres in retarding the drug release. This may in turn reduces the frequency of dosing, there by improving the patient compliance.